How do I fix BF mistake

[jnet24]

My son is 14 months and I still bf him at least 5 times during the day and sometimes all night. For some reason I got into the horrible habit of nursing him only on one side. It started at night I wouldn't switch sides so that side started not to produce as much and the other side leaked more so I just started nurisng him on the one side. I want to bf him for as long as I can but I am afraid one boob cannot produce that much... plus they are a but uneven now I tried to nurse him on the other side and he got upset. I tasted the milk and it is very salty. Why is that? And is there any way I can rebuild milk supply in that breast w/out decreasing the milk in the other side so I can still bf him on demand??

[mzfern]

Could you pump your non-producing side through out the day? I don't know why the milk would be salty, though. I guess it's possible that the milk on that side would never taste "right" but it might be worth a shot. For the record, it's totally possible to breastfeed long term with only one producing breast. I can understand, though, with the uneven sizing, why you wouldn't want to continue.

[Ary99]

I too, am lopsided and both my boys have strongly preferred my left breast. It became much more pronouced just after they turned a year. At 14 months, he's getting nutrition from other sources I'm sure he's ok. As far as being lopsided, it's more obvious to you than anyone else.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Here's some hints to get baby to nurse off the "smaller" side:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/lopsided.html

This article also says that a breast infection might make your milk taste salty. Do you have any other signs of an infection? Pain, redness, lumps?

If baby suddenly begins to refuse one side, it could be caused by an ear infection or other illness in baby (making nursing painful or uncomfortable on that side), an injury to baby (or something else, such as a sore immunization site) that makes nursing painful in that position, or a breast infection in that breast (which can make the milk taste salty). Many babies who refuse one side do so because mom has a much faster or slower letdown on one side (baby might prefer either the faster or slower flow). If all other possible causes are ruled out and baby continues to refuse one side, then consider seeing your doctor just to rule out any breast problems.

[jnet24]

Thanks for all your help. A while back it was really painful to nurse on that side maybe I did\ do have mastitis. He doesn't seem to mind. My main concern was if I could extended bf on the one side if he doesn't take both.. and why was it salty. Thanks again

[BakerALM]

Originally Posted by jnet24

My main concern was if I could extended bf on the one side if he doesn't take both.. and why was it salty. Thanks again

I have know a few woman who exclusively nursed on one side (for different reasons) and everything was fine. They were REALLY lopsided but if you can deal with that I don't think it is an actual problem to effect the nursing relationship. One of the woman was an LLL leader and she said that their is actually a tribe (not sure from where) that exclusively nurses on one side so that they can use their dominant hand to get things done throughout the day while still holding the babe. Just made baby wearing and working easier. kind of COOL!

From my understanding since that side is producing MUCH less everything is much more concentrated on that side, also the salt content. The milk will even out in flavor when the supply increases.

I second pumping that side to increase supply, I bet once that sides production is close to matching the other side, especially the letdown flow and time it won't take much convincing. UNLESS he also has just begun to favor the side on an emotional level. Then you have to work though those feelings as well.

[mazi'smom]

pump! And if you're anything like me and can't stand to see that wonderful stuff go down the drain, maybe you could add it to your son's foods that are supposed to be a little salty. like pasta, or creamy soup! :

[Lady Lilya]

A stiff back muscle caused me to keep feeling a sensation of soreness in one breast. Thinking I was getting a clog, I favored that side for a while. Now it is bigger. When I realized, I tried to compensate by favoring the other side. After months of that, I'm figuring I must have missed a window for breast growth, since they haven't evened out. So, all the more reason to have another baby.